Jerome Le Banner’s Official Website ! – Entretien de JLB pour le magazine Karate Bushido.

- In the fight with Novak, you threw a right hook that electrified him.

The punch has stayed in the closet for too long now. The trainings I did at Chakuriki are starting to pay off.

- Why did you go to Thom Harinck

First of all you have to know that you’re not accepted right away in The Netherlands. In the beginning I wanted to train with André Mannaert ( Mejiro gym in Amsterdam ); but it was too relax. It’s not good for me. I need a real “sensei”. Thom Harinck, former boxer and karateka was one of the first Europeans ( if not the first ) to go to Thailand. He created the Chakurikis in 1972. He introduced Muay Thai in The Netherlands, nobody else. Jan Plas ( founder of Mejiro Amsterdam ) was one of his students, we should not forget him. When you enter Chakuriki, there is an incredible working atmosphere, a marial atmosphere that I like. Muay Thai is a martial art with all its values and culture. The majority of the fighters at Chakuriki, whether they are MMA fighters of kickboxers, have the martial spirit. We greet before each workout, after the workout like in a Dojo. If ever I would have a role in the French Federation of fightsports, I would like to underline those values. Respect for the teacher in the first place.

- Did you need an icon and charismatique trainer like Thom Harinck?

Thom Harinck is The Netherlands along with everything it represents, from the country ‘tibia” to Thailand. He had an exceptional life, he lived with 4 women at his house. He’s an exceptional person.

- Thom Harinck created the two first K-1 GP champions with Branco Cikatic and Peter Aerts.

Yeah, that’s one thing for sure …

- Why did you wait so long to train with him ?

I think that I am a bit stupid at times , it’s in my nature. Thom also asked me that question. The reason was that as soon as I went to The Netherlands and I heard people speak Dutch, I felt like I was in a K-1 press conference. That really struck me. I felt like I was in hostile territory. I didn’t see myself go shopping among women of 1.80 m and guys who are mostly 1.95 m. Of course I exaggerate, but it’s a perception. I was good at my small Etretat ( village in France ) with Arsène Lupin. For me, this was very difficult and that’s why I waited for so long .

- How was the contact with the students of Thom Harinck , among them many heavyweights.

Very good, really very good. I remember when I fought Remy Bonjasky in Amsterdam in 2006, I noticed that I was very much respected in The Netherlands. I remember that Rani Berbachi told me that we went to do a hold up there. To come back to the students of Chakuriki, they have an tremendous admiration for me. But I had to live up to the expectations and that was not easy. We went hard from the very start and we continued to have hard workouts. The workouts were hard from the very start.

- Did you have to do a lot to be respected in the beginning?

In the beginning I was a bit afraid when I went to the club. But I had to show them who Le Banner is and I couldn’t disappoint them.

- And now ?

We train in the morning and the evening. I’m on holiday now, but I’m very eager to return to the gym with and train with my friends. We are a family at Chakuriki and I know that they need me to train as well as I need them to prepare for Seoul. I have to go back there as soon as possible. We have five of six heavyweights that have to fight in the coming weeks, so I have to go back. Holidays are over.

- Do you think that people who thought you were done will be surprised ?

By now I have learnt that it doesn’t do any good to talk. I prefer to act first and then talk. I want to go out via the main door.

- You made a lot of sacrifices, one of them not seeing you daughter very much.

It has been a year that I haven’t really seen her. I did the movies “Bruc” avec Vincent Perez et Fatal with and from Mickael Youn, plus all the trainings. For that reason alone, it has to pay off. I’’m very eager to go far, very far.

- I heart you wanted to fight Badr Hari or Alistair Overeem at the Eliminations this year?

I don’t care, I’ll fight anybody who they put in front of me, no problem. I could for instance go train at Golden Glory, but in that team they have fighters I would like to test myself against. That team is a big cylinder with Semmy Schilt, Gohkan Saki, Errol Zimmerman, Alsitair Overeem and Chalid Die Faust among others.

- How is you relation with Peter Aerts ?

Very good, I go to him, we see eachother often. I always had respect for him. Before, during and after we met.

- A small word on Quarteron?

I can understand his frustration and the idea that he want to retire me. I say OK, but do your work like I did. I can understand that the majority of he heavyweights want to send me and Peter Aerts into retirement. We are the guys the guys that you need to beat to enter the main board. Even if they have respect for the old lions, the young lion wants to eat the old lion it’s perfectly normal. Patrice is 32 years old, which is not particularly young. Patrice Quarteron is a fan or has in any way been a fan for a long time. But again, I understand his frustration. But he has to go through all the steps of the latter and then we can fight. Who has he fought by now? I’m not afraid of him or his staredown. We talked about it after the fight against Novak. We know very well why he did that. When he entered the ring I was looking for camera’s of “candid camera”; it made me laugh. Why would I have to give him the opportunity to fight me. He should go through the steps of the latter. It’s too easy to do business on my back. But he shouldn’t focus on me alone because while waiting, he’s losing time. Patrice has to go forward. If you believe in yourself, go do you show elsewhere where you can win something. Then we will see…

- Who are the young heavyweights who have impressed you so far?

Saki and Zimmerman are very strong, especially Saki. Ghita is good as well. And lets not forget Guidon. Brice has beaten very strong fighters. He beats them inside a round sometimes. When he fought Quarteron, he was very young, too young. Today Brice is not the same guy anymore.

- Let’s talk abaout your last movie « Fatal bazooka » who did well.

Yes indeed, a movie from and with Mickale Youn. We had good reviews and the movie is doing well. It was a great experience. I think I have an unexpected role which will make people laugh. Bruc de Daniel Benmavor avec Vencient Perez should come out in the coming months and I also have a small role in “Les mouvement des basin”. I am a teacher of Martial arts, a Karate sensei .

- You are a fan of Louis de Funès.

Yes a great fan of his. It’s very hard to make people laugh. Gerard Depardieu, an icon in the movie business, has confirmed me that. You have to be one with yourself if you want to make other people laugh.

- What can we wish you ?

That I don’t run into any injuries. The will and balls are there, but I have to demand more from my body. I don’t want to have any injuries to be able to go through a beautiful story and finish in style.

- Do you have a limit set out for yourself

If I had listened to myself, I would have stopped 2 years ago. Right now I have no limit.

- A final word for the readers.

They have always supported me from the beginning. But I repeat, now it’s up to the youngsters. There are plenty of talented guys who deserve your interest. I don’t want to create a frustrated generation. I’m still shocked to see what effect I have on people. I understand that this can be destructive. Some have godsend …

http://www.lebannerofficial.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=155&Itemid=1
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f42/interview-jerome-le-banner-1342491/

A new book on kickboxing history will be published.

Hesdy Gerges and Mitchell De Ligny will fight on IT’S SHOWTIME September 12th, Sporthallen Zuid, Amsterdam.
http://www.itsshowtime.nl/

-> to see more photo

http://www.chakuriki-ico.com/

see also

BRICE GUIDON VS FRANCK MUNOZ

Jérôme Le Banner will fight against Tomas Novack from Canada for the title of Muay-Thaï W.P.M.F. world champion 23 July event “La Reunion”.

Frank Munoz also fight againstBrice Guidon.

Thom, Thommy Harinck and Jerome le Banner was Interviewed by Russian Magazine.
You can download the issue. -> fightmag.ru (Russian)

-> Click to see more photo.